Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
499. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total budget allocated to Sustainable Energy Ireland’s energy in education initiative in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014; the number of schools that participated in the scheme in each of these years; the estimated savings realised under the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23200/14]
View answer500. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if schools here come under the requirements of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan which commits all organisations in the public sector to achieving a 33% energy savings target by 2020; if so, if any measures will be introduced to support schools in meeting these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23201/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.
Through the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) the Government has committed to achieving a 33% reduction in energy demand across the whole public sector, including schools. Ireland's third NEEAP has recently been finalised and will be published shortly. This NEEAP contains a status report on current actions as well as actions planned for the next three years.
A number of supports are in place for schools. In partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Department of Education & Skills has developed an "Energy in Education" website www.energyineducation.ie which was launched in October 2012. The website is designed to help school boards of management, principals, teachers, administrators, caretaking staff, pupils and parents to improve energy use practices and to reduce school operating costs along with helping to protect the environment for future generations.
The following table provides a summary of the expenditure/allocation for the Energy in Education programme inclusive of programme development, web provision, training of school personnel, completion of school assessments and monitoring and reporting.
|
Year |
Budget (€) |
Schools Participating |
|
2012 |
150,000 |
92 |
|
2013 |
130,000 |
92 |
|
2014 |
154,000 |
13 (year to date) |
In the course of the programme, assessors gather information on schools’ total energy spend, and following a site visit they provide a report to the school identifying where savings could be made as well as estimating achievable annual savings. Since commencement, across the participating schools, the total energy spend is €6m with an average achievable energy savings identified of 10%, amounting to approximately €600,000. The inclusion of the Energy in Education Initiative is considered to be a very effective policy tool for improving the energy performance of schools as well as helping to meet our 2020 targets.
My Department has developed the National Energy Services Framework to help develop the energy-efficiency market in the non-domestic sector throughout Ireland. This Framework sets out a roadmap for energy efficiency projects and specifically how an Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) process is undertaken in the public and private sector. The first tranche of exemplar energy efficiency projects was launched in June 2013 which will collectively see investment of up to €55m in energy saving measures and result in annual savings of €7m. There are currently 21 projects (11 public and 10 private sector) under way, including one from the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB). This project will result in the retrofit of 17 schools utilising an EPC for which the procurement process is under way.
The Department of Education & Skills is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy efficiency (including water conservation and efficiency) in school buildings and this has been recognised at both national and international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design and specification. All new schools and extensions must meet an A3 Building Energy Rating (BER) as a minimum.
Overall, the principles of NEEAP supports the approach of the Department of Education and Skills, both in new build and retrofit works in existing schools, under programmes such as the Energy Efficiency Insulation Scheme 2009, the Water Conservation Scheme 2010 and the Summer Works Scheme. It is also open to schools to use their Minor Works Grant to address energy efficiency projects.
